The lifecycle of Babesia bovis requires a mammalian reservoir host and a tick vector. Boophilus microplus acquire the parasites in the blood meal and replication within the tick results in transovarial transmission and development
of infectivity in the subsequent generation. Tick feeding on susceptible cattle results in transmission of sporozoites that
initiate infection of the mature erythrocyte. Intraerythrocytic replication leads to sequential cycles of merozoite release
and infection of additional erythrocytes, resulting in clinical disease.